According to reporter Bob Klapsich, the Mets should be questioned about how they handled Zack Wheeler, who yesterday was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, which will likely lead to season-ending Tommy John surgery (Bergen Record, March 17).

In the end, I’m sure the Mets will investigate this — as will MLB. This is not just a Mets issue, but a baseball issue. The increase in Tommy John surgeries has everyone’s attention, from players to teams. If there is something the Mets could have done to prevent Wheeler’s injury, I’m pretty sure they would have done it and — if it worked — every team and player in baseball would want the recipe. It’s in everyone’s best interest in to understand how each unique case can be prevented, because this whole story is getting old fast >>

By Paul Hagen Early Saturday morning, first baseman Lucas Duda climbed onto a bus for the two-and-a-half hour ride to Lakeland, where the Mets were playing the Tigers in a Grapefruit League game. When it ended, he made the same trip back. The payoff came Sunday afternoon.

Bartolo Colon will start on Opening Day in Washington D.C. as the Mets face the Nationals according to ESPN.com from organization sources.

Colon (41 years, 317 days old) would become the Mets’ oldest opening day starter surpassing Tom Glavine (41 years, 7 days) in 2007. He would also be the oldest Opening Day starter since Jamie Moyer (43 years, 136 days) and Randy Johnson (42 years, 205 days) in 2006.

Colon was 15-13 with a 4.09 ERA last season with 200 innings for the first time since winning the AL Cy Young in 2005.

The last Opening Day start for Colon was in 2006 with the Los Angeles Angels and would make this his seventh career Opening Day start.

By Paul Hagen The Mets had hoped that Matt Harvey, who doesn’t turn 26 until later in the week, could bounce back to be the pitcher he was before Tommy John surgery cost him the 2014 season, the pitcher who started the All-Star Game as a rookie the year before. This spring, he’s shown every sign of being as good as ever.